To Marry McKenzie

CHAPTER ELEVEN

LOGAN sipped the champagne from his glass, eyeing the noisy family

gathering belligerently. What was he doing here?

Stupid question; he knew exactly what he was doing here. His grandfather

had been persuaded into holding an engagement party for Meg and Daniel

two weeks prior to their wedding. Usually this was the type of family

gathering Logan most wanted to avoid, and he would have done so, but for

one thing...

But so far that one thing didn't appear to be here!

After ten days of not seeing her, Logan had mistakenly thought Darcy would

be one of the guests at his grandfather's castle this weekend, that Daniel's

daughter was sure to be invited. Admittedly he had only arrived himself a

short time ago, his flight to Aberdeen having been delayed, meaning he had

only had time to quickly shower and change before coming downstairs to

join the thirty or so guests in the main salon. But they would soon be called

in to dinner, and there was definitely no sign of Darcy.

It simply hadn't occurred to him that she wouldn't be at her own father's

engagement party. If it had, he wouldn't'have bothered to make the journey

himself!

'Cheer up, Logan,' his cousin Brice advised dryly as he stood at his side, the

two of them making a formidable pair, both darkly handsome, but Brice's

eyes green where Logan's were blue. 'It might never happen!'

He wasn't sure what had happened—he only knew that he had missed Darcy

the last ten days, had been sure that he would at least see her at his

grandfather's this weekend. He wished now he had asked his mother if

Darcy were going to be here, and not just trusted that she would be!

He scowled. 'How soon after dinner do you think I'll be able to make my

excuses and go to bed?'

Brice grinned at his obvious discomfort. 'I thought you and Aunt Meg had

reached some sort of truce the last few weeks?' He raised mocking dark

brows.

That might be exaggerating things slightly, although Logan accepted that he

and his mother were at least giving the impression that hostilities had been

suspended!

Logan put down his empty champagne glass. 'We have,' he confirmed

tersely. 'But, as you very well know, I hate these sort of parties, with all the

family trying to get on. And usually failing miserably!' He watched his

grandfather playing the grand host to family and friends alike. It was all a

sham for the latter, of course; the McDonald clan were not known for their

family togetherness! 'In fact, I'm surprised to see you here this weekend,

too,' he added questioningly.

Brice led a solitary existence, often disappearing off the social scene for

months at a time. The fact that he was here this weekend must mean he was

either between commissions or looking for inspiration.

Brice eyed him teasingly. 'I'm wondering which one of the single beauties is

Darcy,' he prompted interestedly.

Logan stiffened, turning to him swiftly. 'You've been talking to Fergus!'

His cousin gave a gleeful grin. 'Bet your life I have— nothing else but the

chance to meet this fiery virago would have induced me to come here this

weekend!' He looked at the glittering, chattering guests with the same

distaste Logan had minutes ago.

Logan retorted resentfully, 'She is not a candidate for one of your brief

flings, Brice.'

His cousin raised an innocent expression. 'I didn't for a moment think she

was,' he replied. 'I just wanted to meet the young lady who had got the better

of my arrogantly self-assured cousin!'

'That arrogance is obviously a family trait,' Logan returned pointedly. 'And

I'm afraid you're out of luck— because Darcy isn't here!' He announced this

with satisfaction.

'Ah,' Brice said with feeling.

'What do you mean, "ah"?' Logan demanded suspiciously.

'Just, ah,' his cousin responded with feigned innocence.

Logan scowled once more—an expression that was becoming all too

familiar with him just recently. But there didn't seem to be much to smile

about any more! Oh, his business interests were still successful; they just

seemed to have lost their challenge the last couple of weeks. If he was

completely honest, he missed having Darcy around to threaten him, kick

him, and throw things over him...

He should be pleased his life had returned to its calm predictability!

But he wasn't.

And he knew he wasn't...

His mouth set grimly. 'I—'

'If you'll excuse me, Logan,' Brice said slowly, distractedly, his gaze fixed

somewhere across the crowded room. 'I've just seen someone over there

who merits a second look...'

Most of the women here this evening, single or otherwise, were so beautiful

they merited a second look in fact, third ones too, most theatrical

acquaintances of his mother. It was just that none of them held any interest

for Logan.

Although he thanked this particular woman, whoever she was, for